Severe Leptospirosis in a Mexican Woman

Acta Med Acad. 2020 Apr;49(1):67-70. doi: 10.5644/ama2006-124.285.

Abstract

Objective: To describe a severe case of infection by Leptospira in a woman in the northwest of Mexico.

Case report: A 55-yearold woman from Sonora, México arrived at the Intensive Care Unit due to severe multiple organ failure primarily affecting the respiratory, renal and hepatic systems. Diagnostic tests were performed, and they were positive for anti-Leptospira antibodies, IgM and IgG; and spirochetes were observed on dark field microscopy and confirmed by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). Doxycycline and platelet apheresis transfusion were used as treatment, which led to a very slow recovery.

Conclusion: The information presented in this study may help in the identification of pathology caused by spirochetes. This case report is the first to present a case of severe leptospirosis in Sonora, México.

Keywords: Acute Febrile Illness; Borrelia; Leptospirosis; Renal Failure; Vector-Borne Disease.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
  • Antibodies, Bacterial / blood
  • Doxycycline / therapeutic use
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin G / blood
  • Immunoglobulin M / blood
  • Intensive Care Units
  • Leptospira* / genetics
  • Leptospira* / growth & development
  • Leptospirosis* / complications
  • Leptospirosis* / diagnosis
  • Leptospirosis* / microbiology
  • Leptospirosis* / therapy
  • Mexico
  • Microscopy / methods
  • Middle Aged
  • Multiple Organ Failure / diagnosis
  • Multiple Organ Failure / etiology
  • Multiple Organ Failure / microbiology*
  • Multiple Organ Failure / therapy
  • Platelet Transfusion
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Severity of Illness Index

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Antibodies, Bacterial
  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Immunoglobulin M
  • Doxycycline